“I couldn’t pass it up” by Maria Halkias at Dallas Star. “Ellison, 49, will start Nov. 1 but doesn’t become CEO until August. At that point, Ullman, 68, will stay on as executive chairman for a full year. In an interview Monday, Ellison called Penney an iconic brand and said he grew up shopping at the chain. “I couldn’t pass it up,” he said of the Penney job. “I have a lot of respect for what Mike has been able to do the last 18 months, and it shows the resiliency of the employees.”Read more

“The last 18 months have proven that turning (J.C. Penney) upside down and shaking it a couple of different ways was not necessary”by Suzanne Kapner, Shelly Banjo & Joann S. Lublin at WSJ. “Bonnie Hill, Home Depot’s lead independent director until this spring, said Mr. Ellison simplified the marching orders given to stores…Ms. Hill said Mr. Ellison will look for answers by spending time getting to know Penney executives and the company’s culture. “Marvin’s not a person who will go in there and say, ‘I know what’s best,’ ” she said. Read more (Subscription)

“Google’s shopping service charges membership fees” by Wendy Lee at SF Gate. “Now renamed Google Express, the service will require a $95 annual or $10 monthly membership fee, which will give members same-day or overnight delivery on orders $15 or more and priority on the order’s delivery time, the company said in a blog posted Monday night.”Read more

“With help from Alibaba, Costco comes to China – but only online” by Stephen Millward at Tech in Asia. “US retailer Costco is entering China today for the first time. But the membership-only warehouse store is not opening any physical shops in the country. Instead it’s partnering with Alibaba’s Tmall marketplace to open a storefront for shoppers in mainland China.”Read more

***A message from Relax Sacks – Get Ready For the Most Comfortable Chair on the Planet!Consumers love the comfort of our ‘big and fun’ bean bag chairs (up to 7.5 feet in size!). Incredibly soft micro-suede covers and uniquely comfortable shredded foam filling make the Relax Sacks experience one your customers won’t want to miss! Great for living rooms, basements, kids rooms, dorm rooms, etc. Bring some fun and excitement to your stores and drive impulse sales in the process. www.relaxsacks.com.Email info@shiftmarketinggroup.net for more information

“Delhaize America Names Michael Laurenti as Chief Information Officer” “Laurenti has more than 20 years of retail leadership in Information Technology. Prior to Belk, he worked at Family Dollar Stores, Linens ‘N Things and Toys “R” Us.”Read more

“Major supermarket chains changed how they label meat, surprising customers and USDA” by Roberto A. Ferdman at Washington Post. “…What transpired at Giant and its sibling companies reflects what food safety experts say is a growing concern about food and supplement manufacturers misusing labels. The experts say that labels are supposed to allow customers to make more informed decisions, often granting a distinction of quality or making claims about health and safety, but they have instead turned into advertising vehicles.”Read more

“Kroger settles chicken labeling lawsuit, will remove “humanely raised” claim” by P.J. Huffstutter at Reuters via Chicago Tribune. “The “Simple Truth” chicken products were packaged with labeling that stated the animals were “raised in a humane environment” and “cage free,” according to the lawsuit. However, standard industry practice for broiler chickens is to house them inside large buildings, not cages, according to industry experts.”Read more

“Walmart & other Retailers Pin Hopes on Holidays After Sluggish Summer Sales” by Natalie Zmuda & Jack Neff at Ad Age. “We’re seeing this tendency for the consumer every holiday to shop a little later,” said Matt Kistler, senior VP-global consumer insights and analytics at Walmart…”The No. 1 gift card people want to get is from Walmart, because of all you can buy,” Mr. (Stephen) Quinn said, but it “is also the card that they’re most nervous about giving to someone. So what we need to do is actually lower people’s ‘guilt level.”Read more

“Amazon adding 1,000 jobs in Britain” by Ben Miller at Puget Sound Bus. Journal. “Amazon is adding the jobs to the existing 6,000 distribution center jobs in the country.”Read more

“Kroger director sells millions in stock” by Steve Watkins at Cincinnati Bus. Courier. “Reuben Anderson exercised options last month to buy 47,100 shares for a little more than $21 each…He sold those shares the same day for more than double the exercise price. Kroger’s stock was trading at $52.12 when he sold it, meaning he brought in a gain of more than $1.4 million.”Read more

***

Eye-on-Retail is a daily tipsheet read by thousands of Retail Merchants & Executives every weekday morning. Eye-on-Retail is unique because it’s timely, smart and fun. It’s created early AM every weekday and delivered between 7-8 am CST. We love data, earnings reports, executive presentations and stories off the beaten path that get at what’s really happening in the world of retail.